The Blood Stained Blonde Tour was the second concert tour by American singer-songwriter and producer Hayden Silas Anhedönia, under the stage name of Ethel Cain . Like the previous one , it served to promote the artist's debut studio album, Preacher's Daughter (2022), a critically acclaimed concept album . The 46-show tour began on April 1, 2023 in Mexico City and concluded on October 24, 2023 in San Francisco .
47-592: On March 17, 2022, Cain announced her debut studio album, Preacher's Daughter , which was stated to release on May 12. She released three singles to promote the record: " Gisbon Girl ", " Strangers ", and " American Teenager ". Also, she embarked on a concert tour the same year, titled the Freezer Bride Tour , which began on July 14, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana , and concluded in London , England , on December 7. At
94-447: A Carrie -sized cultural impact, comparing its terrifying moments to the 1974 novel by Stephen King and their ages when their works were published. Our Culture Mag 's Konstantinos Pappis felt that Preacher's Daughter started to build Cain's legacy, and it managed to reach a wider scope. Sputnikmusic 's Jesper L. admired the storytelling and arrangements, and described the album as "an astonishing accomplishment". In
141-416: A complicated family network marked by violence. On "Hard Times", Cain longs for the love of a distant father who perpetuated sexual abuse to her, and pleads him, "Tell me a story about how it ends, where you're still the good guy. I'll make pretend". She also reflects about wanting to "emulate the fatherly authorities in her life who brought her harm". The seventh track, "Thoroughfare", finds Cain meeting
188-465: A genital reconstruction surgery, as a valid form of sex reassignment surgery, while other states allow other forms of gender confirmation surgery to qualify individuals for changing information on their birth certificates. In some U.S. states, it is also possible for transgender individuals to legally change their gender on their drivers license without having had any form of qualifying gender confirmation surgery. Also, some U.S. states are beginning to add
235-644: A heterosexual one as a partner comes out as a trans man - or parents of a boy may become parents of a girl after their child comes out as a trans woman. Transgender people in many parts of the world can legally change their name to something consistent with their gender identity. Some regions also allow one's legal sex marker changed on documents such as driver licenses , birth certificates , and passports . The exact requirements vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction; some require sex reassignment surgery , while many do not. In addition, some states that require sex reassignment surgery will only accept 'bottom surgery', or
282-427: A less favorable review, Pitchfork writer Evan Rytlewski marked "Ptolemaea" as a standout, but noted a disconnect between the singer's "provocative public image and the rigid composure of [the] songs". He also criticized the album's length, believing that at times "she sounds like she's writing to run out the clock". In May 2022, Preacher's Daughter was included on Pitchfork 's list of best new albums. In
329-534: A man in Texas , who tells her, "Baby, don't run", from his truck. The protagonist "hop[s] right in" as they go towards the west of the United States, while she affirms: "'Cause for the first time since I was a child/I could see a man who wasn't angry." "Gibson Girl" is a violent song told from the perspective of a prostitute . On the track, she narrates a situation of abuse from her new partner, detailing how sexuality on
376-456: A medical transition or surgery can absolutely be medically necessary for some individuals' personal wellbeing, no two transitions are the same. Transitioning is a complicated process that involves any or all of the gendered aspects of a person's life, which include aesthetics, social roles, legal status, and biological aspects of the body. People may choose elements based on their own gender identity, body image, personality, finances, and sometimes
423-409: A medical transition, not everyone can access gender affirming care, and not all may wish to pursue it. A person's ideas about gender in general may change as part of their transition, which may affect their religious , philosophical and/or political beliefs. In addition, personal relationships can take on different dynamics after coming out. For instance, what was originally a lesbian couple may become
470-480: A new name, ask to be referred to with a new set of pronouns, and change their presentation to better reflect their identity. Socially transitioning does not involve medical intervention or gender affirming surgery, but it may be a prerequisite to access transgender healthcare in some regions. People may socially transition at any age, with documented cases of children as young as 5 , or adults as old as 75 . While many of those who socially transition will pursue
517-619: A score of 82 out of 100 based on eight reviews from media aggregate site Metacritic , indicating "universal acclaim". The review aggregator site AnyDecentMusic? gave the album a score of 8.2 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus from 12 reviews. Writing for Clash , Oshen Douglas McCormick found that Preacher's Daughter marked "a stark growth of stylistic confidence" following Inbred . The critic also wrote that Cain's musical journey reached "a new height" with Preacher's Daughter , and described it as "a truly realised culmination of style and composition". Cain's voice
SECTION 10
#1733086243776564-543: A variety of Christian music . She left the church at the age of 16. Two years later, after leaving her religious family home in Florida , she began her gender transition process and started writing her debut studio album . In 2017, she released dreamy bedroom pop demos of songs under different monikers. As White Silas, she first published Gregorian chant -inspired singles and mixtapes to SoundCloud and Tumblr . Two years later, she began her main project, Ethel Cain, with
611-566: Is followed by two instrumental tracks—"August Underground" and "Televangelism". The former represents Cain trying to escape from her lover, who ultimately kills her, and the latter allegorises her ascent to Heaven. "Sun Bleached Flies", the penultimate song on Preacher's Daughter , finds the character reflecting from beyond the grave ; she later recalls the third track: "I'm still praying for that house in Nebraska." She looks back lamenting her detachment from faith and her community. The final track on
658-442: Is portrayed as a crime-committing bad boy on "Western Nights", which romanticizes their dark and abusive relationship and how she would do anything for them. Beats Per Minute 's Tom Williams drew comparisons between the lyrics of "Western Nights" and Ultraviolence , a 2014 album by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey . The lyrics of the fourth track, "Family Tree", are about her relationship with Christianity and
705-432: Is the longest track on the album, and leans towards a more Americana sound, led by harmonica and acoustic guitar . The instrumental track "Televangelism" features echoed piano, which, according to Devon Chodzin from Paste , recalls Grouper's Grid of Points . Preacher's Daughter has predominant Southern Gothic imagery, with its aesthetics being heavily influenced by religion. Cain's on-stage performances for
752-517: Is the set list for Coachella on April 15, 2023, and it is not intended to represent all dates throughout the tour. Cain performed six songs from Preacher's Daughter and one from Inbred . Preacher%27s Daughter Preacher's Daughter is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter and record producer Ethel Cain . It was released on May 12, 2022, via her own independent record label Daughters of Cain, which serves as an imprint of publishing company Prescription Songs . The album
799-497: Is typically offered after a diagnosis of gender dysphoria , a form of medicalization . In recent years, there has been a push for an informed consent model of transgender healthcare which allows adults to access HRT without a formal diagnosis. Transitioning is a process that can take anywhere from several months to several years. As a personal journey, there will never be a one-size-fits-all approach to transition. This page uses topic-specific vocabulary that may be unfamiliar to
846-572: The Blood Stained Blonde Tour in 2023. It marked her Coachella Festival debut. Cain also performed at various festivals such as Pitchfork Music Festival , Vivid Sydney , and Reading and Leeds Festivals , and was a supporting act for indie rock band Florence and the Machine 's Dance Fever Tour , American singer Caroline Polachek 's Spiraling Tour , and American indie supergroup Boygenius 's The Tour . Preacher's Daughter received
893-680: The lead single of the album, " Gibson Girl ". The following month, " Strangers " and " American Teenager ", the second and third single respectively, were released, with the latter gaining an accompanying video published in July. To promote the album, Cain hosted album release shows in Los Angeles and New York City , on May 18 and May 25, 2022, respectively. She also performed live on KEXP , and at WNXP 's Sonic Cathedral in Nashville, Tennessee . As part of Vevo 's DSCVR Artists To Watch 2023 series,
940-493: The 1991 film Thelma & Louise , she wrote "Thoroughfare" and the album "shifted into a new gear", and was inspired to see "where [the story] was truly going". She also listened to horror podcasts and spent time at country stores and estate sales while making the record. Developed over four years, Cain wrote and produced all 13 tracks on Preacher's Daughter , with assistance from two collaborators: multi-instrumentalist Matthew Tomasi and musician Steven Mark Colyer, with
987-469: The EPs Carpet Bed and Golden Age . She then signed to publishing company Prescription Songs , and created her own imprint Daughters of Cain. Cain gained prominence by releasing her third extended play under the moniker, Inbred (2021). The EP marked a departure from Cain's previous bedroom production and a tease of how her full-length debut would sound. Cain started working on her debut album at
SECTION 20
#17330862437761034-486: The United Kingdom. The last shows in the United States were confirmed on July 24, along with the supporting acts: 9Million, Skullcrusher , Midwive , Wulven, and King Woman . The tour marked Cain's Coachella debut, and she was named as one of the "10 unmissable new acts to see" at the 2023 edition of the festival. Her participation at the festival, confirmed on January 10, received positive reviews from critics. This
1081-457: The age of 19, which had an initial duration of two hours and a half. Before the idea of Preacher's Daughter , Cain was working on a different concept album "about angels and stuff"; she stated that she was under " LSD psychosis withdrawals". She changed the course of the album when she wrote the song "A House in Nebraska" in one day. Cain first envisioned the album's protagonist as a cult leader . She declared that "a week or two" after watching
1128-521: The album include transgenerational trauma , toxic relationships, and cultist Christianity, and some of the content is a criticism to the American Dream . The story of the album is set in 1991, ten years after the death of the town's preacher, Cain's father. Writing for Vox , Emily St. James found the album's characterization similar to Truman Capote 's In Cold Blood and to the works of Flannery O'Connor . Cain stated that Preacher's Daughter
1175-502: The album often directly proximate to violence and death. On "Ptolemaea", Cain goes through hallucinations induced by drugs. While a distorsioned male voice says "gave you, need you, love you", the character begs to "stop". It was influenced by the artist's love for horror movies. The song was named after one of four concentric rings of the ninth circle of Hell in Dante 's Inferno , dedicated to those who betrayed their guests. "Ptolemaea"
1222-456: The album were inspired by Edwardian fashion and Americana style. The cover artwork of the album depicts Cain sitting below a painting of Jesus Christ , wearing a vintage white dress and heels. In an interview with Nylon , Cain stated that she wanted the cover to be "a little creepy, like an eerie photograph found under your grandmother's bed of a relative she never told you about". She also revealed that it took "about 8 selects", but chose
1269-451: The album, "Strangers", starts with another monologue from the preacher, who talks about the paradise awaiting believers after death. The track sees Cain as a "freezer bride" in her killer's basement, who cannibalizes her. She tries to have validation from her lover and religion, and then focuses on her mother in the final verse of the song and album: "Mama, just know that I love you / And I'll see you when you get here". Preacher's Daughter
1316-469: The album, Cain embarked on her first two concert tours, the Freezer Bride Tour in 2022 and the Blood Stained Blonde Tour in 2023, through North America, Europe, and Oceania. Hayden Silas Anhedönia developed an interest in music at a young age, as being involved in a church choir from a Southern Baptist community where her father was a deacon ; it was her first exposure to music. She began studying classical piano at age 8, and her early influences were
1363-400: The attitudes of others. A degree of experimentation is used to know what changes best fit them. Transitioning also varies greatly between cultures and subcultures according to differences in the societies' views of gender. The social process of transitioning begins with ' coming out ', where others are told that one does not identify with their birth sex . The newly out trans person may adopt
1410-503: The course of a gender transition, people who are close to the transitioning individual may experience a sense of loss, and work through a grieving process. This type of loss is an ambiguous loss , characterized by feelings of grief where the item of loss is obscure. Family members may grieve for the gendered expectations that their loved one will no longer follow, whereas the transgender person themself may feel rejected by their relatives' need to grieve. Feelings that arise are described as
1457-493: The end of 2022, American singer-songwriter Caroline Polachek announced her Spiraling Tour , in which Cain performs at an opening guest. In the first half of 2023, only months after finishing her previous one, Cain announced her second headlining concert tour, Blood Stained Blonde Tour, with North American dates on several festivals, such as Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival , Reading and Leeds Festivals , and others. She also announced dates opening for supergroup Boygenius in
Blood Stained Blonde Tour - Misplaced Pages Continue
1504-455: The following month, it was listed as one of the best albums of the year so far by Gorilla vs. Bear . At the end of 2022, it was included on several publications' lists of the best albums of the year, being named the best by Crack , The Line of Best Fit , and Sputnikmusic . A standout according to critics, the track " American Teenager " was placed between the best LGBTQ songs of all time by Billboard and Rolling Stone , and
1551-452: The latter joining Cain on her first North American tour. Preacher's Daughter is a concept album inspired by Cain's own struggles with culture and religion, but centered on the fictional character of the same name, a girl who suffered abuse from her father and runs away from her Christian family and community. The artist stated that the character is her alter ego , and described it as her "dark, evil twin". The overall lyrical themes of
1598-399: The layperson. Below are some definitions to make this page more accessible: It is important to note that most transgender individuals will receive few, if any surgeries throughout their lifetimes and some may never receive HRT. Barriers to accessing medical transitioning can include: a lack of financing, a lack of desire, or a lack of accessibility. There is no one way to transition, and while
1645-489: The majority of people. A social transition may include coming out as transgender, using a new name and pronouns, and changing one's public gender expression. This is usually the first step in a gender transition. People socially transition at almost any age, as a social transition does not involve medical procedures. It can, however, be a prerequisite to accessing transgender healthcare in many places. In transgender youth , puberty blockers are sometimes offered at
1692-484: The one where "[her] face was morphed slightly". Promotional visuals for tracks from the album feature grainy shots of empty cabins and churches with American flags, with lights turned on, ceiling fans running, and crucifixes on wood-panelled walls. Cain announced that her debut album would be called Preacher's Daughter on March 17, 2022, and revealed the release date. Alongside the album's announcement, Cain shared its track listing via social media. She also released
1739-418: The onset of puberty to allow the exploration of their gender identity without the distress of irreversible pubertal changes . Upon reaching the age of consent, they become eligible to pursue a medical transition if it is still desired. A medical transition may include hormone replacement therapy (HRT), transgender voice therapy , and gender affirming surgeries . The ability to start a medical transition
1786-515: The option of legally changing one's gender marker to X on legal documents, an option used by some non-binary people. Physical aspects of gender transition can go along with social aspects; as well as wearing gender affirming clothing, transgender people often hide features from their natal puberty, with many transgender men binding their breasts and transgender women shaving. Other physical aspects of transitioning require medical intervention, such as transgender hormone therapy or surgeries. Over
1833-534: The prologue of the record, "Family Tree (Intro)", which begins with a distorted recording of a Southern preacher explaining the significance of the mother as an icon. It is followed by "American Teenager", on which the artist is critical to the American dream. On the torch song "A House In Nebraska", Cain relays the story of herself and a partner's lives, while missing him and the home base in Nebraska . The same partner
1880-399: The singer recorded live performances for the album tracks "A House in Nebraska" and "Thoroughfare". In June 2022, Cain confirmed via social media that she would be kicking off her first concert tour across the United States, titled the Freezer Bride Tour . Weeks later, she announced several dates across Europe; in the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands and France. She also embarked on
1927-428: The works of Del Rey and musician Grouper . "American Teenager" is the most upbeat track on the album, led by heavy synthesizers and guitars. Music critics, including Williams and Pitchfork 's Evan Rytlewski, drew comparisons between the song's sound and the early works of American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift , specifically her 2008 album Fearless and its 2010 follow-up Speak Now . "Thoroughfare"
Blood Stained Blonde Tour - Misplaced Pages Continue
1974-791: Was described variously by critics as a Americana , folk , ethereal , goth-pop , and dark ambient album with perceived influences from slowcore , heartland rock , gospel , industrial , noise , and horror-electronica . The album's sound is built around piano, grunge guitars, and "muddy sounds". Several of its tracks are power ballads , while the majority of them introduce guitar solos , mainly inspired by stadium rock and hair rock . The album contains cock rock riffs, sludge and drone instrumentals, and draws inspiration from Gregorian chants and choral vocals. Cain also cited mainstream artists Florence Welch and Lana Del Rey as vocal inspirations. Shaad D'Souza for The Guardian observed similarities between Preacher's Daughter and
2021-475: Was entirely produced by Cain, with assistance from Matthew Tomasi on two tracks. Preacher's Daughter is a concept album that creates a narrative centered on fictional characters and inspired by the artist's personal life as the daughter of a deacon . It explores intense themes including family trauma and sexual violence. Sonically, it experiments with Americana , folk , ethereal wave , goth-pop , dark ambient , and elements of several other genres. The album
2068-413: Was praised by Crack 's Emma Garland and The Line of Best Fit 's Paul Bridgewater. Garland opined that it is "resplendent and seemingly infinite in register", while also commended her songwriting. The Guardian 's Rachel Aroesti also praised the album for its lyrical content and "atmospheric potency". Jessie Atkinson of Gigwise wrote that the album has the potential to have
2115-404: Was preceded by the release of three singles between March and April 2022: " Gibson Girl ", " Strangers ", and " American Teenager ". Upon release, Preacher's Daughter was met with acclaim from music critics, with praise towards its storytelling and songwriting, and Cain's vocal performance. Many critics named it one of the best albums of the year. It has also gained a cult following . To promote
2162-486: Was ranked at number 29 on Pitchfork 's list of the best songs of the decade so far. All tracks written and produced by Ethel Cain , except where noted. Gender transition Gender transition is the process of affirming and expressing one's internal sense of gender , rather than the gender assigned to them at birth . It is the recommended course of treatment for individuals struggling with gender dysphoria , providing improved mental health outcomes in
2209-585: Was the first chapter of the story, with an intention to write a series of novels, while directing and starring in an accompanying film. In an interview with The Line of Best Fit in December 2022, she also expressed interest in continuing a trilogy of albums, with the second and third titled Preacher’s Wife and Mother of a Preacher , respectively. She dubbed the trilogy "the Ethel Cain Cinematic Universe". She explores transgenerational trauma on
#775224